Transmission of an anisotropic metasurface is analyzed in a polar base relying on the Jones calculus, and polarization conversion from the spatial uniform polarization to the spatial nonuniform polarization is explored. Simple and compact polarization converters based on rectangular holes or cross holes etched in silver film are designed, and polarization conversions from the linear and circular polarization to the radial and azimuthal polarization are realized. Numerical simulations of three designed polarization converters consisting of rectangular holes equivalent to polarizers and quarter-and half-wave plates, exhibit the perfect polarization conversion. The experiment results consistent with the simulations verify theoretic predictions. This study is helpful for designing metasurface polarization converters and expanding the application of a metasurface in polarization manipulations.

In view of the limitations of vortex generators with polarization dependence at present, we propose a plasmonic vortex generator composed of rectangular holes etched in silver film, in which the optical vortex can be generated under arbitrary linearly polarized light illumination. Two sets of rectangular holes are arranged equidistantly on a circle and rotate in postulate directions. Theoretical analysis provides the design principle for the vortex generator, and numerical simulations give guidance on designating the vortex generator parameters. Experimental measurements verify the performance of the proposed vortex generator. Moreover, two alternative structures for the generation of a plasmonic vortex are also provided in this paper. The resulting perfect vortex, compact structure and flexible illumination conditions will lead to wide applications of this plasmonic vortex generator.

A kind of metasurface cylindrical vector light (CVL) generator in the visible region is proposed. This kind of CVL generator consists of nanometer holes etched on silver film, and it can change any linearly or circularly polarized light into the CVL in nanoscale. The order of the generated CVL is controlled by the rotation of the holes and its polarization state changes with the incident polarization condition. The base transformation theory guides is used to design the metasurface. The numerical simulations for the transmission of the proposed CVL generators confirm the validity of the theoretical predictions, and they also provide the available parameters for practical metasurface devices. The experimental results verify the performance of the proposed metasurface CVL generators. This kind of vector light generator has the advantages of thin and compact structure, polarization multiplexing and convenient manufacture. This work paves a new path for designing the miniature devices to generate the vector light field and it will promote the applications of polarization devices in optical integration and micro-manipulation.

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We propose a vortex beam generator based on a nanometer spiral slit and explore the propagation rule of the topological charge. Compared to the common methods of generation of a vortex beam with a fixed topological charge, the optical vortex generated by the proposed vortex beam generator has the topological charge varying with the propagation distance. The value of topological charge can be modulated by the geometric charge of the spiral slit and the propagation distance. Theoretical analysis predicts the variation rule of the topological charge of vortex beam in the near field, and numerical simulations and experimental measurement verify the proposed scheme. Discussion on the shape and structure of the spiral slit is also presented. This work provides the theoretical foundation for the generation of a vortex field with variable topological charge. The simple geometry of the vortex beam generator and the flexible modulation of the topological charge must inspire applications of the vortex beam.